What is the function of endosomes?

Endosomes are membrane-bound organelles that are responsible for regulating the trafficking of proteins, lipids and other subcellular compartments of both the secretory and endocytic pathways. Endosomes originating from the Golgi apparatus are packaged with proteins and lipids for delivery to specific intracellular or extracellular destination, such as lysosomes or the cell membrane. Whereas endosomes that originate from the cell membrane, which contain lipids, membrane proteins and extracellular molecules, are either transported to lysosomes for degradation or in the case of membrane proteins can be recycled back to the plasma membrane.